Step-by-Step Process To Turning Off ‘Looking For Job’ On LinkedIn
When you’re ready to stop looking for jobs and return to your career, you should turn off LinkedIn’s ‘looking for jobs’ feature. This announcement is widely visible to recruiters and connections on LinkedIn and can derail your job search by announcing to the world that you are no longer employed, or at least looking for a new job. Even if you’ve done well to create a positive narrative for your next career move, this public declaration can undermine your efforts. As a LinkedIn content creator, maintaining your professional image is key, and this feature might disrupt the narrative you’ve worked hard to build. So, when you’re ready, turn off the looking for jobs feature on LinkedIn and get back to business. This post will cover how to do this and why it’s essential.
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What Is The ‘Looking For Job’ Feature On LinkedIn?
At its core, it’s a visibility tool. When you turn it on, LinkedIn allows you to share your job preferences with recruiters who use LinkedIn’s hiring tools, like:
- Location
- Job type (full-time, part-time, remote)
- Specific roles you’re interested in
The goal is to help match you with relevant opportunities more quickly.
How It Appears on Your Profile
When you activate the feature, LinkedIn gives you two visibility options:
- Recruiters Only: This is the more discreet option. It shows your “Open to Work” status only to LinkedIn Recruiter users outside your current company (though LinkedIn can’t 100% guarantee complete privacy).
- All LinkedIn Members: This option adds the green “Open to Work” banner around your profile picture. It makes your job search public and visible to anyone who views your profile, not just recruiters. You also get to define what types of jobs you’re interested in, which industries or locations you’re targeting, and whether you’re looking for remote or on-site roles. This info is stored in your profile’s backend and is visible to recruiters when searching for candidates.
What's the Purpose?
The feature was created to streamline job-seeking for candidates and recruiters. By flagging your interest, you show up more readily in recruiter searches for open roles. That can lead to more inbound opportunities, faster conversations, and better alignment with roles that match your preferences. While it can be a powerful tool for boosting visibility, it’s worth noting that using “Open to Work” isn’t without downsides.
For example, it can unintentionally reveal that you’re unemployed or looking to leave your current job, which might not be ideal if you’re still employed and want to keep your search under wraps. So while it’s practical, it’s best used thoughtfully, just like any tool in your job search toolkit.
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Reasons To Turn Off ‘Looking For Job’
It Looks Like You're Unemployed (Even If You're Not)
That 'Open to Work' badge signals recruiters that you're out of a job and looking for anything to get back on track. Even if that's not the case, maybe you're just looking for a better opportunity while still employed.
Or perhaps you've been furloughed and are waiting for your company to call you back. Either way, there's a stigma associated with being unemployed, and some recruiters may assume you're a less desirable candidate simply because you have the ‘Open to Work’ label on your profile. Instead, focus on your skills and accomplishments.
It Could Alert Your Employer That You're Job Hunting
The ‘Open to Work’ feature is harmless if you’re unemployed. But if you're currently employed and quietly looking for a new job, it could backfire if your boss sees it. Those filters aren’t foolproof even if you limit visibility to recruiters outside your company.
A current employer could quickly discover your job search through a mutual connection or stumble across your LinkedIn profile. Instead, use this time to optimize your profile and attract the right opportunities without the risk of alerting your employer.
It Can Make You Look Desperate
Openly advertising that you're looking for a job can make you look desperate. While this perception is unfair, it can affect how recruiters view your value. Instead of signaling that you have options and can afford to be selective, a public job search can make it seem like you're willing to accept any offer that comes your way.
Keeping the ‘Open to Work’ setting on can help you maintain confidence and control while searching for your next opportunity.
There are Better Ways to Get Noticed
Worried about getting noticed by recruiters? You don't need the green 'Open to Work' badge to do it. Instead, focus on polishing your LinkedIn profile and making it as attractive as possible to employers.
- Use keywords, create a compelling summary, and highlight your achievements.
- Engage with relevant industry content and join conversations.
These activities will improve your LinkedIn profile’s visibility and help you attract the right opportunities without broadcasting to the world that you're looking for a job.
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Step-by-Step Process To Turning Off ‘Looking For Job’ On LinkedIn
Get Started: Access Your LinkedIn Profile
To begin, log into LinkedIn and click the “Me” icon at the top right of the page. From the dropdown menu, select “View Profile.”
Locate the ‘Open to Work’ Section
You’ll see a gray box near the top of your profile that says “Open to work” or something similar. Click the pencil icon to edit your job preferences.
Remove the ‘Open to Work’ Setting
A window will open showing your saved job titles, locations, workplace preferences, etc. In the bottom-left corner of that window, click “Delete from profile.” LinkedIn will ask you to confirm. click “Delete” again to remove the settings officially.
Hide the Open to Work Banner Instead
If you still want recruiters to know you’re open to roles without advertising it to the world, here’s how to remove the green banner only.
- When you click the pencil icon in the “Open to Work” box, you will find the section labeled “Choose who sees you’re open.”
- Click the dropdown (usually says “All LinkedIn Members”) and select “Recruiters only.”
- Once you make and save this change, the green frame around your profile picture disappears, but your status remains visible to LinkedIn Recruiter users (not the general public).
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9 Tips For Managing Your LinkedIn Profile Without ‘Looking For Job’
1. Update Your Profile Photo: Refresh Your Image
Is your LinkedIn photo outdated? A clear, recent profile photo helps you connect with others. It also helps recruiters and potential employers know who they’re talking to. If you land a first interview, you want to look like your profile photo. Make sure it’s a high-quality picture that represents your personality. Since LinkedIn helps you get your next job, dress for your desired role.
Someone in marketing or social media will likely look different from someone in law enforcement or other government roles. Let the picture represent who you are and clearly show your face. The image should be 400 X 400 pixels and look like a professional headshot (no party photos or people cut out).
2. Complete Your Whole Profile: Fill It Out
It may sound obvious, but you want a complete profile with all completed sections and up-to-date information. The best way to optimize your LinkedIn profile is to ensure everything is covered. Complete profiles offer a massive advantage over candidates with sparse profiles.
3. Get a Custom URL: Look Professional
There are billions of LinkedIn users. Yes, billions. The automatically generated URL you get when you sign up may have a collection of numbers. But you can snag your custom URL with your name or something close to it if you have a common name.
Go to your LinkedIn profile, click the pencil icon, then scroll to the “Contact info” section. Here you can edit your URL with your full name. A name-only URL can help with branding and make it easier to tell people where to find you.
4. Add an Attention-Grabbing Headline: Be Descriptive
The newspaper and online media industries have mastered the art of attention-grabbing headlines, enticing you to read further. Now it’s your turn to practice with your LinkedIn headline. Avoid stale or dry, non-descript language that doesn’t showcase who you are and what you do. The headline is one of the first things people see when they comment or post on LinkedIn, so what would make someone want to click your profile and view more? Ditch the quote or adjectives.
I recommend starting with a simple job title and 1-2 hard skills relevant to that specific title. You don’t need to have a fancy “ex-company” listed, but just tell me who you are, bottom line. If you’re stuck, consider your current job title + hard skills + years of experience.
Examples include:
- Seasoned Human Resources Professional in Benefits Administration with 20+ years of experience
- Graphic Designer and Photoshop whiz for 5+ years
- Content Manager with a love of SEO with 3 years of experience
- Sales professional in E-commerce for 10 years
5. Include Keywords: Boost Your Profile’s SEO
The best LinkedIn profiles for job seekers include keywords that others may neglect. Just as you might use keywords to search for jobs, recruiters and employers also use them to find job candidates.
- Review the job descriptions for the last five jobs you’ve applied for.
- What are some common keywords used?
- Write those down and sprinkle them into your LinkedIn profile for your headline and your LinkedIn “About” section.
That way, your profile is more searchable, and the job listings calling your name can find you.
6. Update Your LinkedIn Summary: Get Detailed
Your LinkedIn summary or “About” section lets you dive deeper into who you are, what you do, and your skills and strengths. Imagine your headline and photo as the cover of a book, and your “About” section is the description on the back of a book, making you want to buy it or read it (or not).
Connect the dots around my experience, most relevant skills, and abilities, and tell my professional story in a quick snapshot. Your LinkedIn summary should include:
- Your job titles and industry
- Years of experience
- Contact info
- Call to action
7. Highlight Skills: Show Off Your Abilities
One of the best LinkedIn tips for job seekers is to highlight your relevant skills in your LinkedIn Skills section, and include a portfolio or sample of your work. This is not the time or place to be vague or shy! Be specific and comprehensive.
8. Participate in Relevant Groups: Network with Peers
LinkedIn groups offer another way to network with others in your industry. By joining groups related to your job or industry, you can connect with others, share best practices and advice, and get on the radar of potential employers.
You can use the search term, put in a keyword, and filter by “Group.” Find the ones that sound like a good fit and hit “Join.” From there, start interacting and sharing your expertise. This can be a great way to build your brand and network with others naturally.
9. Get Recommendations: Request Endorsements
Much of your LinkedIn profile is you writing about yourself. It can be awkward, but it’s necessary. But there’s another thing that can be even better than sharing your talents in my own words, recommendations from previous employers and colleagues. A LinkedIn recommendation is essentially a stamp of approval, with a third party vouching for you and highlighting your key skills.
This can add a layer of depth and assurance to potential future employers who are checking you out. Ask the people you have in mind if they can share a recommendation on LinkedIn. Don’t hesitate to recommend others if you feel they’ve done stellar work.
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